Men Sentenced in Prostitution Case Involving Teen Boy

ST. CLOUD -- Two men charged with prostitution involving a 15-year-old boy have been sentenced after pleading guilty earlier this year. The men were accused of responding to an ad on Craigslist and then meeting the boy in a Cold Spring park on separate occasions where they paid him for sex.

Both 56-year-old Kenneth Vilter and 60-year-old Joseph Burton had filed separate motions asking for a "durational departure" to make their convictions gross misdemeanors rather than felonies. They claimed they didn't know the victim was a minor. The family of the boy had a victim impact statement read to the court opposing the lesser charge and also calling for jail time.

Both judges denied the motions to reduce the charges, but neither Vilter nor Burton will see any more jail time as long as they abide by the conditions of their probation.

Vilter was sentenced to five years probation, must perform 80 hours of community service, pay nearly $3,000 in fines, fees and restitution and complete several therapy and counseling programs.

Burton was sentenced to 50 days in jail with credit for two days he already served. He'll serve 10 days performing community service and the remaining 38 days of that sentence on home monitoring. He must also pay nearly $3,000 in fines, fees and restitution. Burton is also on probation for five years and must complete several counseling and therapy programs.

If either man violates their probation, they could serve up to a year-and-a-half in prison.